title: Age at diagnosis in bladder cancer: does opium addiction play a role?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bladder cancer is a major health problem, especially among men. Opium addiction can be an important risk factor. One important question is whether it can affect the age of onset of bladder cancer .We performed this study to evaluate this question.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-section study, records of patients diagnosed with bladder carcinoma in Shahid Labbafinejad Medical Center, within 1999-2008 were included. Data were extracted from records regarding age at onset, gender, smoking status, and opioid addiction and analyzed with SPSS 13.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within 10 years, 920 cases were diagnosed with bladder cancer of which 97 percent were transitional cell carcinoma. In 698 cases, opium addiction status was recorded in 21.3% (n=149). Age at diagnosis was 59.7±11.51 (median: 60) among opioid addicts which was significantly lower than non- addicts (63.1±13.65, Median: 65) (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Opium addiction can decrease the age of onset of bladder cancer.
authors.affiliation: Community and Preventive Medicine Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran E-mail : h-akhavizadegan@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karbakhsh
authors.forename: Najmeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dabbagh
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shabani
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabibi
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akhavizadegan
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009892:Opium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D009892:Opium